Charleston, S.C.—David A. DeCenzo, Ph.D., president of Coastal Carolina University, has been re-elected as chair of S.C. Sea Grant Consortium’s Board of Directors. DeCenzo will begin his one-year term on January 1, 2014. “I look forward to serving another term as chairman of the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium,” said DeCenzo. “The Consortium’s work is important to our state, and it is a pleasure to work with such an impressive board and outstanding staff.”

DeCenzo, a native of Maryland, is the 2nd president of Coastal Carolina University (CCU). Prior to his appointment as president, DeCenzo served as dean of CCU’s E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration from 2002-2006, and was named provost of the university from 2006-2007. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Master of Business Administration program in 2006.

DeCenzo attended the University of Maryland at College Park, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics (1978). He also earned a Master of Arts degree with an emphasis on labor economics (1980) and a Ph.D. in industrial relations (1981), both from West Virginia University. He then became a corporate trainer/employee development specialist with Blue Cross Blue Shield, an assistant professor at the University of Baltimore and a professor, scholar and administrator at Towson University in Baltimore. DeCenzo’s teaching and research interests have focused on management, human resource management and organizational behavior. He is the author or co-author of nearly 30 textbooks that are used widely at colleges and universities.

“I look forward to working with Dr. DeCenzo again this year in his role as board chairman,” said Rick DeVoe, executive director of the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium. “His leadership has been instrumental to the Consortium as it seeks to build on successes in serving the information needs of various stakeholders who depend on the coastal and marine resources of South Carolina.”

The Consortium’s Board of Directors is composed of the chief executive officers of its member institutions. Currently serving on the board are: Dr. David A. DeCenzo, president of Coastal Carolina University (board chair); James F. Barker, president of Clemson University; Dr. P. George Benson, president of College of Charleston; Dr. Mark S. Sothmann, interim president of Medical University of South Carolina; Col. Alvin A. Taylor, executive director of S.C. Department of Natural Resources; Thomas J. Elzey, president of S.C. State University; Lt. General John W. Rosa, president of The Citadel; and Dr. Harris Pastides, president of University of South Carolina.

The state of South Carolina is seeking nominations for an award to recognize individuals who are doing extraordinary work for the natural environment. Nominations will be accepted through January 31, 2014.

The S.C. General Assembly established the S.C. Environmental Awareness Award, now in its 21st year, during the 1992 legislative session to recognize outstanding contributions made toward the protection, conservation and improvement of South Carolina’s natural resources.

Each year the public is invited to submit nominations that are then reviewed by an awards committee, which includes representatives from the state’s natural resource agencies. In judging nominees, the committee considers excellence in innovation, leadership and accomplishments that influence positive changes affecting the natural environment.

Members of the awards committee represent the S.C. Forestry Commission, S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, S.C. Department of Natural Resources and S.C. Sea Grant Consortium. Nomination guidelines, application form and a list of previous award winners are available at www.dnr.sc.gov/news/scenvironawareaward.html or by contacting Vivianne Vejdani at (803) 734-4199 or VejdaniV@dnr.sc.gov.

Charleston, S.C.—The 25th annual Beach Sweep/River Sweep is scheduled for Saturday, September 21 from 9 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Each year thousands of people volunteer for the Sweep, South Carolina’s largest one-day litter cleanup of beaches, marshes and waterways.

The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium is partnering with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources to organize the statewide event, which is held in conjunction with the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup. Anyone can participate – individuals, families, schools, youth groups, civic and conservation clubs and businesses. Volunteers either organize their own cleanups at sites that are not already covered or they may sign up to assist at the cleanup locations listed on the websites below.

Last year over 4,000 dedicated volunteers removed 20 tons of litter from the state’s beaches, marshes and waterways. In the cleanup’s 24-year history, nearly 1,120 tons of litter have been collected, and much of it was recycled.

Charleston, S.C.—S.C. Sea Grant Consortium Board of Directors will hold its annual meeting from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on September 17, 2013 at the Inn at Middleton Place, 4290 Ashley River Road, Charleston, S.C. Items on the agenda include discussion of the agency’s FY2014-2015 state budget request, update on NOAA/Sea Grant FY2014-2015 appropriations, update on the agency’s program performance and review and reports on recent studies and coastal ocean initiatives. Election of the next Consortium Board Chair will also be held.

The Consortium’s Board of Directors is composed of the chief executive officers of its eight member institutions. Current board members are: Dr. David A. DeCenzo, president of Coastal Carolina University (Board Chair); James F. Barker, president of Clemson University; Dr. P. George Benson, president of College of Charleston; Dr. Mark S. Sothmann, interim president of Medical University of South Carolina; Col. Alvin A. Taylor, executive director of S.C. Department of Natural Resources; Thomas J. Elzey, president of S.C. State University; Lt. General John W. Rosa, president of The Citadel; and Dr. Harris Pastides, president of University of South Carolina.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 6, 2013

RE: 2012 Environmental Awareness Award Winner AnnouncedColumbia, S.C.—Tom Kester, a retired partner from the global auditing firm of KPMG LLP, has been named winner of the 2012 South Carolina Environmental Awareness Award during a ceremony May 15 at Harbison State Forest in Columbia. Mr. Kester, who serves as chairman and treasurer of the not-for-profit Conestee Foundation, was recognized for his volunteer efforts as part of the Foundation to acquire an old mill lakebed and turn it into a wildlife refuge and nature park for public use.

Lake Conestee Nature Park (LCNP) in Greenville consists of over 400 acres, which includes the original mill lakebed and three historic farm properties adjacent to the lakebed. There are over 10 miles of trails built within the park and two outdoor learning centers. The creation of LCNP spurred local governments to restore an abandoned minor league baseball stadium to little league standards, and build four new little league baseball fields, creating a first class tournament site. More information about the LCNP and the Conestee Foundation is available at www.conesteepark.com.

There have been over 15 Master’s and Ph.D. studies done at LCNP. LCNP currently has grants from 3M and Michelin to design and install four instructional trail loops within the park. In addition, LCNP has been the recipient of numerous Eagle Scout projects.

The S.C. General Assembly established the S.C. Environmental Awareness Award in 1992. The award is now in its 20th year recognizing outstanding contributions made toward the protection, conservation and improvement of South Carolina’s natural resources. The S.C. Environmental Awareness Award Committee includes appointees from each of the following natural resource agencies: S.C. Department of Natural Resources, S.C. Sea Grant Consortium, S.C. Forestry Commission and the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Charleston, S.C.—The S.C. Task Group on Harmful Algae is hosting a free workshop, Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and Stormwater Ponds, on Friday, May 31 from 1:30-4:30 p.m. at the S.C. Department of Natural Resources’ Marine Resources Research Institute, 217 Ft. Johnson Road, James Island, S.C.
The workshop will feature a panel of scientists and resource managers who will cover the current state-of-knowledge about stormwater ponds and HABs, including the function and distribution of stormwater ponds, algal toxins and human health, recognizing and reporting HABs and HAB prevention and management. There will be ample time for a Q&A session for attendees who have questions about harmful algal blooms, potential human health effects and stormwater pond management.

The workshop is sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, S.C. Sea Grant Consortium, S.C. Department of Natural Resources, University of South Carolina’s Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine and Coastal Sciences and S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Charleston, S.C.—The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium is funding a social-science research project developed by Annette Watson, Ph.D., assistant professor of human-environment geography in the College of Charleston’s Department of Political Science. For this project, titled “Coastal Livelihoods and the Local Sense of Place,” Watson and her colleagues are studying three different populations—commercial, subsistence and recreational fishermen—in rural McClellanville, suburbanizing Awendaw and urbanizing Mount Pleasant. The researchers will use innovative interviewing techniques and quantitative analysis to help long-time residents and newcomers identify special fishing places that they want to protect and find commonalities for land-use planning purposes.

Residents of these three rapidly changing communities in northern Charleston County share a respect for the health of local waterways. “We’re trying to get a holistic picture of what people are thinking about the coast and its waterways and what they want for the coast,” said Watson.

The project aims to determine the senses of place experienced by life-long residents; spatially measure access to coastal resources historically used by life-long residents; determine the relationship between long-term residents’ economic practices and their environmental values; test whether different community identities can find commonalities in their values; and develop common indicators that community leaders can use to track changes through time.

Additional growth is predicted to occur along this corridor of Highway 17 known as the “Sewee to Santee” region, and this research will address similarities in social-ecological relationships to assist community leaders with land-use planning.

Watson and her colleagues are actively seeking long-time residents and newcomers who want to participate in the study. To learn more about the project or volunteer to participate, contact Watson at (843) 953-5864 or watsonam@cofc.edu.

The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium seeks to enhance the practical use and conservation of South Carolina’s coastal and marine resources to foster a sustainable economy and environment. The Consortium is a member of the nationwide network of 33 Sea Grant College programs, and is supported by the State of South Carolina and the NOAA National Sea Grant College Program, U.S. Department of Commerce. For more information about the Consortium, visit www.scseagrant.org.

The College of Charleston is a public liberal arts and sciences university located in the heart of historic Charleston, South Carolina. Founded in 1770, the College is among the nation’s top universities for quality education, student life and affordability. With more than 11,000 students, the College of Charleston offers the distinctive combination of a beautiful and historic campus, modern facilities and cutting-edge programs. For more information about the College of Charleston, visit cofc.edu.

Charleston, S.C.—Elizabeth Fly, Ph.D., has joined the S.C. Sea
Grant Consortium as the coastal climate extension specialist. Fly’s
position is jointly funded by the Consortium and University of South
Carolina’s Carolinas Integrated Sciences and Assessments (CISA) program.
CISA conducts applied climate research and works to integrate climate
science into decision-making processes.

Fly has a B.S. in biology from the University of Puget Sound and a
Ph.D. in biological sciences from the University of South Carolina. She
recently completed a year as a John A. Knauss Marine Policy fellow in
Washington, D.C., where she worked on the National Climate Assessment at
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Program
Office and the U.S. Global Change Research Program.

In her new position, Fly will work with state climate experts to
gather knowledge that already exists, identify areas that need more
research and present climate information to local communities and the
public. She also will assist coastal communities with data collection
and resiliency planning in order to incorporate available weather and
climate information into local decision-making processes. In addition,
Fly will help CISA develop and implement coastal-drought indicators for
planning purposes.